Photos released by the Philippine Marines shows Gov. Sakur Tan and Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidulla with Marines Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban and US military commander Maj. Joseph Mouer during the hand-over ceremony of the school buildings in Maimbung town.SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 13, 2008) – Filipino and US soldiers have formally handed over to Sulu provincial officials three new school buildings they jointly constructed as part of humanitarian and development projects aimed at helping the local Muslim communities.
The projects were inaugurated over the weekend in Maimbung town by Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan and his deputy Lady Ann Sahidulla with Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the Philippine Marines and Maj. Joseph Mouer, the chief of US forces deployed in Sulu.
The buildings were handed over to representatives of the Department of Education and Bato Ugis Elementary School under Abdulmoin Lakibul and local town officials headed by Mayor Najib Maldisa.
“We may only be able to fully achieve our peace objective if we complement it with development. By doing so, we must do it together. Progress comes easily for a community where people are educated and well-informed,” Sabban said.
Tan, on the other hand, stressed the importance of education in Sulu and praised the soldiers for their efforts in building the schools. More than 50 schools have been built by Philippine and US troops since 2006 in Sulu.
“We will continue to support these humanitarian efforts to sustain the achievements of Sulu in promoting peace and development. My administration will always be behind these benevolent projects of the Armed Forces and the US military. We appreciate the efforts of the soldiers in bringing peace to this beautiful province we call home,” Tan said.
US troops have been training Philippine soldiers in Sulu and are active in humanitarian missions. The US has spent more than $10 million in various development projects in Sulu, according to Sabban. (With a report from Erico Rosco)
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